Vinification (R) Flashcards
What is vinification?
- It begins when the grapes arrive in the winery.
- Decisions and practices made in the winery by the winemaker that affect quality and style.
List the factors of vinification.
- Pre-Fermentation
- Fermentation
- Types of Winemaking
- White, Rose, Red
- Sparkling
- Dessert and Fortified - Fermentation Vessels
- Aging and Maturation
- Important Vinification Terms
- Preparation for Bottling
- Packaging
List the factors of pre-fermentation.
- Sorting (sorted to remove excess - leaves, branches, damaged fruit, random unwanted items)
- De-stemming (obvious. Can elect against this.)
- Crushing (crushing to release juice. Be gentle or unwanted bitterness and tannins!)
- Fermentation (sugar + yeast = alcohol+CO2)
(also creates flavors, aromas, heat)
Winemaking steps - white wine?
- Harvest (red or white grapes)
- De-stem or Whole Bunch
- Crush
- Press juice from skins (must) (skin contact)
- Fermentation
- Aging?
- None
- LEES CONTACT
- Barrel (type and size) - Fine and/or Filter
- Bottle
Winemaking steps - rose wine?
- Harvest (red grapes)
- De-stem or Whole Bunch
- Crush
- Press juice from skins (must) (skin contact limited)
- Fermentation
- Aging?
- None
Barrel (type and size) - Fine and/or Filter
- Bottle
Winemaking steps - red wine?
- Harvest (red grapes)
- Crush
- De-stem or Whole Bunch
- Skins and seeds macerated with juice (must) - Fermentation
- Press juice from skins
- Aging?
- None
- Barrel (type and size) - Fine and/or Filter
- Bottle
List the primary factors of a fermentation vessel.
- Size
- Shape
- Material
How does a fermentation vessel impact the final wine?
Can affect:
- Aroma
- Flavor
- Texture
Name three sizes/shapes of vessels.
- Foudre: 1000+ liter (large)
- Barrique: 224 liter (small)
- Egg-shaped
Name three vessel materials.
- Wood
- Stainless Steel
- Concrete
What does barrel aging do?
- Evaporation of excess water
- Oxidation: Causes color change in wine
(white = darken pale yellow to gold. red = lighten) - Textural: Softens wine
- Flavor Changes: Vanilla, oak, toast, spice (cinnamon, clove, allspice), Coconut
What are the primary barrel considerations?
- Age
- Type of wood
- Financial Considerations
- Size of Barrel
What is another name for a new oak barrel and how does it impact a wine?
- “First use”
- Will impart the most flavor and aroma
What is another name for an older oak barrel and how does it impact a wine?
- “Used”
- Imparts little to no flavor or aroma after 4-6 years of use.
- STILL impacts oxidative flavors and textural effects
New oak barrels are extremely __________. What do winemakers have to consider and what is an alternative?
- Expensive.
- Does the style require use of high percentage of oak? If so, does winery have the means/model to support the production year?
- Oak chips or planks are an alternative
__________ barrels will impart __________ flavor to the wine because a lower percentage of surface area is in contact with the wood.
- Large
- Less
__________ barrels will impart __________ flavor to the wine because a higher percentage of surface area is in contact with the wood.
- Small
- More
When is a barrel rendered neutral?
- After its fourth to sixth use
How do neutral barrels impact a wine?
- No longer impart flavors or aromas
- DO IMPART oxidative flavors
- DO IMPART textural effects
How does aging in oak affect the texture of a wine?
- Softens the wine
How does barrel aging affect the color of a wine?
- Red wines grow lighter in color
- White wines grow darker in color, from pale yellow to gold
What types of flavors does barrel aging impart on a wine?
- Vanilla
- Oak
- Toast
- Spice (Cinnamon, Clove, Allspice)
- Coconut
What are the main types of wood used for barrel aging?
- American Oak
- French Oak
- Slavonian (from northeastern Croatia)
- Hungarian
Describe the flavors imparted by American oak.
BOLD:
- Vanilla
- Baking Spices
- Dill
- Coconut
